KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has said that he has “stepped into the shoes of B.P. Koirala,” the founding leader of the party.

Speaking at a program in the capital, Thapa said the party should focus on solving national problems rather than getting trapped in internal conflicts.

Recalling party history and the legacy of B.P. Koirala, he said leading the Nepali Congress is both a matter of pride and responsibility. “I have stepped into B.P. Koirala’s shoes,” he said. “Should the president of the Nepali Congress think about the country’s problems or internal disputes?”

He emphasized that many leaders and cadres have made long sacrifices to establish democracy, adding that the party’s core mission should be to bring change in citizens’ freedom, dignity, and living standards.

Thapa also stressed the need for direct communication with supporters and well-wishers to strengthen the party’s grassroots base.

Referring to past elections, he noted that the party had lost around one million voters and said his main goal is to regain the trust of those disappointed supporters.